Sample Activity:
Manipulation Box
The Recycling Occupational
Therapist
Learn
how to make activities for developmentally disabled individuals out of
common household recyclable objects.
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Each side of a
box is
covered with a minipulative activity
such as unscrewing bottle caps or removing Velcro strips.
The box size
can vary depending on the size and physical
needs of the user. A box at
about shoulder width and eye
height should be a good size to promote shoulder range of
motion and visual attention. Individuals will need to
use the
non-dominant hand to stabilize the box, thus, promoting
bilateral hand use (using both hands). More challenged
individuals may
remove the
manipulatives on each box side
and drop them inside; more able
individuals can reattach
the manipulatives as a separate activity.
People find the
colorful
manipulatives very inviting and
fun.
Directions
To Make Activity
Cover
each side of the box with contact paper. Be sure
to use
colors that contrast with the manipulatives. Choose four of the
following activity suggestions to cover the four sides of the box.
You may repeat some or make up your own.
- Cut out strips of
sticky back hook Velcro and attach to one
side of the
box. Vary the strip lengths to increase
challenge.
Cut out matching
lengths of sticky back
loop Velcro. Cover
the sticky side with
contact paper. Individuals attach the loop
Velcro
to the hook Velcro strips on the box.
- Using a juice
carton, cut off the threaded pieced that the
caps
screw onto. Cut holes in the Manipulation Box to push
the
threaded pieced through. Attach the threaded pieces in
place
with duct tape from inside the box. Individuals screw
the
caps off and drop them inside the box. Use different sized
caps
and threads for greater challenge. More details are
provided
in my book.
- Instead of
using screw
caps, use the push and pull caps
and
bottle
necks found on cider and
milk gallon jugs.
- Attach
a cookie sheet to
one side of the box. Place large
magnets on
the sheet.
- Attach
interesting
objects to the box with Velcro. Suggested
objects
include a small shiny objects,
pictures, musical
button switch, ball
filled with bells. This list is endless.
Individuals
can remove these to insert inside the box.
- Make
small holes all
over one box side. Insert laces about
12
inches
long. Tie knots on the
lace ends
inside the box so
that they can't be
pulled all the way through the holes.
The laces are hanging
on the
outside of the box. Ask the
individual to tie or untie two
laces
together. For greater
challenge use laces of different
colors to require color matching.
©2008 Barbara Smith
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